This site is devoted to coverage of Missoula area legislative races and ballot issues. The articles were produced by students at the University of Montana School of Journalism.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Senate District 50: Kandi Matthew-Jenkins

Constitution Party

AGE: 58

OCCUPATION: Small Business Owner – Montana Craft connection out of her home for 19 years, Grassroots organizer for ‘Cpsxposed’ Advocacy network, builds furniture with husbandHOMETOWN: Missoula since 1961; born in Chicago, Illinois; she has also lived in India

FAMILY: Husband, John, six childrenEDUCATION: Equivalency of 1 year of college in Sociology at Flathead Valley College and McHenry, Illinois. Also trained medical receptionist, but not certified from College of Technology in Missoula

POLITICAL or PUBLIC SERVICE: Director and crisis pregnancy counselor for Birthright of Missoula (now 1st Way Pregnancy Center); ran for City Council in 1999; ran for House District 66 (now 99) in 2000; vice-chairman for Montanans for Better Government, 2001; ran for mayor in 2001, ran for the city government study commission; ran for House District 95 in 2004; lobbied for state public defender system for equal due process representation of indigent parents with cases involving Child Protective Services, 2005-2006; ran for House District 97 in 2006

Matthew-Jenkins seeks government reform

By BRENNA BRAATEN

For Kandi Matthew-Jenkins, the urge to enter politics first surface when she read an advertisement saying the city of Missoula was going to raise fees for business licenses. Being the owner of a small business, she went to City Hall to check it out. -MORE-